The plateau felt like it was holding its breath.
Cracks spread across the ground in jagged, web-like patterns from the last exchange.Dust hung in the air like suspended smoke.Dozens of elite disciples stared with wide, disbelieving eyes.
Because they had just witnessed the impossible:
Lian Hong stopped Mu Yanting's killing strike—and pushed him back.
Even Xu Jian's calm expression tightened.
Zhou Shan was already on the ground, fainted with his eyes open.
"Bro… bro… bro… this isn't cultivation… this is two ancient beasts fighting over territory…"
Mu Yanting rolled his shoulder once.
The motion was simple, almost casual.
But the echo of force alone sent ripples through the air.
He studied Lian Hong with a new light in his eyes—
Not disdain.Not testing curiosity.
Recognition.
"You awakened something," Mu Yanting said.
Lian Hong wiped blood from his lip.
"So did you."
A faint smile ghosted across Mu Yanting's lips.
"At last, a proper fight."
SECOND PHASE: FULL RELEASE
Wei Feng, the overseeing instructor, stepped back silently.
He didn't interrupt.
He didn't warn.
He didn't even blink.
He understood what was happening.
Geniuses only reveal their true fangs when cornered.
Mu Yanting's Aura Explodes
He stepped forward.
Just one step.
BOOM—!!
A column of wind roared upward around him, swirling violently.
Cracked tiles shattered into dust.
Trees outside the ring bent backward.
The disciples screamed:
"He's releasing his full aura!!""That is Outer Sect's strongest pressure!!""He's never shown this in a normal duel!!""Lian Hong pushed him into using his true strength!?"
Xu Jian narrowed his eyes.
"To think someone could force Yanting's core circulation technique to activate…"
Mu Yanting's eyes sharpened.
"Watch closely, Lian Hong."
He raised his hand—
—and the wooden sword at his waist began to hum.
Not with qi.
With momentum.
Each breath he took compressed spiritual energy toward his center.
His voice was quiet.
"Silent Flow – First Form."
He vanished.
The Invisible Strike
This time wasn't like before.
Before, the air shifted.The ground cracked.There were traces.
Now—
there were none.
It was the quietest movement Lian Hong had ever witnessed.
Mu Yanting wasn't fast—
he erased movement itself.
But Lian Hong's bloodline reacted instantly.
[Bloodline Instinct Resonance: 10% → 13%][Predictive Combat heightened]
A flash of red split through his vision.
Trajectory.Momentum.Angle.
He twisted right—
SCHHH!!
A blade of pressure grazed past his ear.
Stone behind him split cleanly into two halves.
The platform trembled.
Zhou Shan exploded into a scream:
"BRO STOP PRETENDING YOU CAN DODGE THAT LIKE IT'S NORMAL—!!"
Lian Hong didn't answer.He couldn't.
He was too focused.
Because Mu Yanting's next attack was already coming.
Mu Yanting Chains His Strikes
"Silent Flow – Second Form."
Air gathered at his fingertips.
He thrust forward.
This wasn't a punch.It was a compressed blast of force—like a spear that didn't exist.
Lian Hong ducked—
BOOOOM—!!
A crater exploded behind him.
Dust shrapnel flew everywhere.
Disciples screamed and retreated.
"He destroyed the platform—!!""This duel is going beyond the rules!""Is Wei Feng going to intervene!?""No! He's letting them fight!"
Mu Yanting continued:
"Silent Flow – Third Form."
He raised both hands.
The air around him warped.
Pressure condensed into two invisible blades.
Then—
He slashed.
CRAAAAACK—!!
The very air tore open.
Wind pressure shot toward Lian Hong like a pair of guillotines.
Lian Hong crossed his arms—
and his bloodline ignited.
Crimson flared under his skin.
[Bloodline Instinct Resonance: 13% → 16%]
He rotated his body at the last possible millisecond.
The double strike grazed his ribs—
and ripped open the ground behind him in two perfect arcs.
Lian Hong Counterattacks
He didn't retreat.
He surged forward.
His footwork—
lightfastexplosiveunpredictable
Shadowstep Mirage Form bloomed around him.
Three afterimages split—
then three more—
until nine flickered around him like phantoms.
The crowd lost their minds.
"NINE MIRAGES!?""He multipled his afterimages!?""That's not a movement technique anymore—that's a bloodline phenomenon!""WHAT IS HE!?"
Mu Yanting's expression finally changed.
The tiniest twitch—
surprise.
Lian Hong's fist came from his left—Mu Yanting blocked.
A second fist from the right—Mu Yanting parried.
A knee strike from below—Mu Yanting sidestepped.
But the attacks didn't stop.
Lian Hong's movements were flowing, wild, continuous.
He was reading Mu Yanting's motions in real-time.
Bloodline instinct screamed through his veins—
predictanticipatestrikeevaderedirectcounter
Mu Yanting blocked six blows in a row.
And then—
the seventh strike landed.
A palm strike to the chest.
THMP—!!
Mu Yanting slid back a full step.
The world went silent.
Then—
the plateau ERUPTED.
"He struck Rank 1 again!!""He landed clean!!""What kind of monster is Lian Hong!?""This is a duel between two freaks!!"
Zhou Shan cried like he'd seen heaven and death simultaneously.
"BRO YOU HIT HIM—YOU HIT HIM—!! WAIT STOP HITTING HIM HE'S GETTING MAD—!!"
Mu Yanting steadied himself.
He touched his chest.
Then—
he laughed.
Softly.
"It has been many years since anyone struck me."
He raised his wooden sword.
And for the first time—
he released killing intent.
"Lian Hong," he said quietly."You have earned the right to witness my true style."
The temperature dropped 10 degrees.
Clouds twisted.
Wind died.
Mu Yanting's aura refined into a single terrifying point.
"Silent Flow – Fourth Form.True Strike."
Lian Hong tensed.
His bloodline surged.
[Bloodline Instinct Resonance: 16% → 19%]
The final clash was about to begin.